Elderly woman receives great honour
Lenie Pretorius spent most part of her life taking care of the disadvantaged.
A 82-year-old community servant, who spent more than 30 years of her life caring for the disadvantaged in her community, received a great honour from the Kwaggaspoort Reddingsdaad non-profit organisation as it named its massive building after her.
The event to honour Lenie Pretorius was held on Thursday at the Kwaggaspoort Reddingsdaad centre housing more than 40 homeless elderly people in Danville.
“I am happy for receiving such a great honour and it makes me proud about the work I have done over the years,” Pretorius told Rekord.
Kwaggaspoort Reddingsdaad centre manager Wilma de Vos said Pretorius had worked hard for the community and, therefore, deserved the acknowledgement.
“She has worked hard for the community for the past 33 years.”
The event was attended by around 60 people including NGOs working in partnership with Kwaggaspoort Reddingsdaad centre, donors and community members.
Care Protect Invest South Africa chairperson Dinah Bronkhorst said Pretorius’ effort to help the community was special.
“All of us are working every day in the community but it actually feels special that somebody gave so much of her own time, her children’s time and her family time to work for the community,” Bronkhorst said.
“It is just right to name the building after her.”
She said Pretorius gathered and distributed food to disadvantaged community members and most importantly dedicated her valuable time to those less fortunate.
“The good work she has done for the community is more valuable than money.”
Kwaggaspoort Reddingsdaad board chairperson Gerhard Erasmus echoed Bronkhorst’s sentiments.
“Today is about giving Pretorius acknowledgement for her hard work in the community,” Erasmus said.
He said she was remembered for starting the Kwaggaspoort Reddingsdaad project many years ago.
“The project is about taking people off the street and providing them [with] the place to stay, food and social services. The beneficiaries are elderly people earning South African social security agency grants and people living with disabilities.”
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